Author: laurence (Page 1 of 6)

How To Clean Your Hardwood Flooring

Guide to Wood Flooring Maintenance

Maintenance of wood flooring in commercial buildings is vital to have a safe surface for employees and customers while maintaining the beautiful and sophisticated appearance of the floor materials. Facility and building managers will need to have the proper knowledge and training in regards to the type of flooring that they will clean and service. Here is a simple guide to wood floor maintenance that can be used to prolong the lifecycle of the wood materials while offering preventive advice that can be used to minimize damage.

Daily Maintenance

Deciding on the right daily cleaning services will be based on the type of commercial business that is in operation, the outdoor environment and other factors. You may be in charge of a building that experiences a high amount of foot traffic from employees or customers that requires you to perform nightly sweeping of the surface.

The outdoor environment also plays an important factor. If you are in charge of a resort facility near the beach or has pool access, or a golf course where an abundant amount of dirt from shoes will get onto the surface, you may be required to perform multiple cleaning services throughout the day. Select the daily and weekly schedule that is appropriate for the establishment to lessen the amount of dirt, debris and damage the floor undergoes from commercial business activities.

Most flooring in facilities will require sweeping and spot mopping to maintain the luxurious wood surface. Vacuuming is also ideal on a weekly basis to pull up dirt that may get between the seams of the flooring.

Periodic Deep Cleaning

Deep cleaning usually isn’t recommended on a daily basis. The constant use of cleaners and equipment can quickly strip the finish off the surface, causing the wood floor to become more exposed to dirt, debris and moisture. Only perform periodic deep cleaning on a monthly basis to keep up the eye-pleasing beauty of the wood surface.

Never use any type of harsh cleaners that are recommended for other floor materials such as vinyl or tile. Always consult the wood flooring manufacturer’s instructions in regards to the right cleaning products to use that will not strip the finish from the floor or cause unnecessary wax build-up. Look for hardwood floor cleaners that are specifically designed for wood floors that have a polyurethane finish and contain a low-VOC formula to help with the interior air quality of the commercial establishment.

There are many tools and equipment that can be used to perform periodic deep cleanings such as auto scrubbers, commercial mops and buffers. Always inspect any flooring equipment before use to ensure there are no problems that may end up scratching or marring the surface of the wood floors.

Hardwood floor maintenance is simple.

Hardwood floors will last 25 years between sandings, if they are well-maintained.

Here are 5 tips to help your floors stay in tip-top shape.

Sweep and vacuum your hardwood floors like crazy.

Here in Minnesota, we track all manner of grit, gravel and salt onto our floors. The photo at right in one sweeping of the shop floor on one typical day in January. These particles are abrasive, just like the grit on sandpaper.

Your weight on top of those abrasive particles turns you into a sanding machine that will grind down the finish on your floor as effectively as any floor sander – so get that grit off that floor regularly and often.

Never, ever steam clean or wet-mop a wood floor. Ever.

Those long-stick squeeze mops just don’t wring out the mop head thoroughly enough, and even small amounts of water can cause your floor to swell and cup over time.

Now, for all you strong, old-fashioned types out there, getting on your hands and knees and washing the floor with a carefully squeezed-out conventional sponge is usually not a hazard to your floor, but we feel bad making your clean your floors that way.

Never wax a polyurethane floor!

You’re looking at your polyurethaned hardwood floor and thinking that it looks dull and dingy and just needs to be polished up a bit. Don’t try it.

Polyurethane is simply plastic and buffing it will just dull it further and laying down a layer of wax will prevent you topcoating with more polyurethane, which is the correct way to restore sheen to your polyurethane floor.

Use rugs.

Place mats at exterior doors to trap sand and grit that arrives with incoming traffic. Use area rugs in high traffic areas and spots where you pivot, like the base of stairwells.

Be careful about rug underlayments.

rug check plusMany people like to use a separate backing under their carpets to add cushion and keep them from slipping.

But synthetic rubber and polyurethane rug backing can react with the plastic in polyurethane floors and discolor and degrade it; natural latex or rubber underlayments will not. But the problem is, manufacturers are not very good about listing the components in their rug underlayments.

How to Clean Hardwood Floors

Learn how to care for hardwood floors by using these natural cleaners and following these simple tips.

Hardwood floors bring an earthy, warm beauty to your home. They’re durable and, with proper care, last for decades. You can keep them looking lovely by following these tips on how to clean hardwood floors.

The first step: Use a dust mop or vacuum to remove dirt, dust, pet hair and other debris that could scratch the floor. Don’t use a vacuum with a beater bar attachment as it could damage the surface of the floor. Use the floor-brush attachment. Depending on traffic and the number of pets and children you have, you’ll need to do this at least once a week.

Dust mopping won’t remove the dirt and grime that build up over time. For periodic deep cleaning, you’ll need to use a liquid cleaner. You can use a commercial wood-cleaning product, like Bona or Murphy’s Oil Soap. Be sure to follow manufacturer’s instructions. You can also make your own cleaner by mixing one part vinegar to 10 parts warm water. Add a few drops of liquid Castile soap.

Whatever cleaner you choose, the process for how to clean wood floors and how to clean engineered hardwood floors is the same. Saturate a rag or sponge mop in your cleaning solution. Wring it out thoroughly so the mop is damp, not wet. Mop the floor with the cleaner, being careful to not put too much liquid on the floor. Rinse the mop with clean water, wring out excess, and damp mop the floor to remove the cleaner. Wipe up excess water with a clean, dry towel because standing water will damage the floor.

You can also use boiling water and two teabags to clean hardwood floors. The tannic acid in tea creates a beautiful shine. Let two teabags steep in the boiling water for a few minutes. Pour the tea into a bucket. Take a soft cloth and wring it out in the tea. The cloth merely needs to be damp, not soaked. This will enable the floor to dry quickly. Wash the floor and be ready to be amazed by the sheen.

Covering scratches that remain after cleaning is part of knowing how to clean a wood floor. Take a crayon the color of the floor and rub it on the scratch to fill the gap. Turn a blow dryer on high, heat the area where the crayon was applied and buff it with a soft cloth.

Prevent dirt and damage to your newly cleaned floors. Put doormats inside and outside exterior doors to cut down on the dirt and moisture tracked in. Avoid scratches by using floor protectors under furniture and putting down rugs in high-traffic areas. Knowing how to clean a wood floor will keep yours looking beautiful for years.

Think You’re Up to DIYing It? Some Tips to Help

Test it. Pick a discrete spot to test your process before you ruin your entire living room. Some chemical- or oil-based cleaning products leave a nasty, nearly-invisible residue, which might bubble to the surface once you start to seal the planks. If anything looks odd during testing, strip your floors using a mixture of ammonia and water, or use a commercial hardwood cleaner.

Skip the stain. Keep your wood natural, then finish it with a water-based polyurethane instead.

The water-based finish dries quickly, which is a plus. It does mean you’ll need to work fast, though, he says. It can start feeling dry to the touch in as little as 15 minutes. If you don’t work quickly, you risk visible overlapping strokes on the finished floor. Not a deal-breaker, but it will look amateurish.

Take your time. Refinishing your floor can take a week or more. A lot of that time will be spent, well, watching paint dry. Pros will let you know how long to stay away and help you seal up the room, but doing it yourself means you’re on your own. It’s best to wait at least 24 hours before touching the floor after each coat of polyurethane, even if it feels dry.

Wear socks — just socks. Shoes, bare feet, and pets can easily ruin all your hard work. So make sure to wear socks during the entire process and for the first 48 hours after the floor is done. In fact, your socks will help buff the floor! Sock race, anyone?

What Are The Steps To Refinishing Hardwood Floors?

Read these 6 steps for refinishing the wood floors in your home:

Clean the Floor with a Hardwood Floor Cleaner

Remove all the furniture, and spray the floor with a hardwood flooring cleaner or your own mix of 10 parts water to 1 part white vinegar.
Gently wipe the floor with a terry-cloth mop or a towel wrapped around a mop head.
Close the windows and doors to keep dust contained in the room you’re sanding.

Prep the Perimeter

Using 180-grit sandpaper, hand-sand the perimeter of the room and any nooks that the buffer can’t reach.
Rub with the grain 4 to 6 inches out from the baseboard, working over each board until the finish dulls and a powder forms.

Pro Tip: Don’t use a sanding block for refinishing hardwood—it might miss uneven spots in the floor.

Scuff-sand the Floor Finishing

Stick a maroon buffing pad to the buffer, and put on a dust mask.
Move the buffer from side to side across the floor in the direction of the grain, overlapping each course by 6 inches.
The old finish turns to powder as you go, so it’s easy to see the areas you’ve covered.
Keep the buffer moving at all times, but stop every 5 minutes or so and vacuum the pad.

Vacuum and Tack

Leave the room for 10 to 15 minutes to let the powder settle.
Put a clean filter in the vacuum, and sweep the floor using a felt-bottomed attachment.
Work in line with the flooring strips, then sweep across them to get any powder that settled between the boards.
Finally, dry-tack the floor with a microfiber cloth pushed with the grain.

Cut in Along the Edges

Cover your shoes with booties and your nose and mouth with a respirator that has organic vapor canisters.
Strain the finish through a cone filter into a clean plastic watering can, minus a sprinkler head, then pour some strained finish into a small plastic container.
Brush a 3-inch-wide stripe beside the baseboards at a point farthest from your exit door.
You’ll have lap marks if the edge of the stripe starts to dry, so stop after 10 minutes and go to the next step.

Roll Out the Poly

Pour out a 1-inch-wide stripe of finish in line with the grain—only as much as you can spread in 10 minutes.
Using a long-handled roller with a ¼-inch nap cover, roll out the finish with the grain, then across it.
Overlap each pass and work quickly to keep a wet edge.
After 10 minutes, brush more finish along the edge, then pour and roll again for 10 minutes. Continue until the floor is covered.
Wait 3 hours before recoating and a week before putting back furniture.

Optimization Of CCTV Camera Operator Settings

How to Shoot High-Quality Video

Video has evolved tremendously since the days of celluloid film and videotape. We all have devices in our pockets now that can shoot video with the tap of a button. And since web video is the most popular thing on the internet since cats, gifs, and cat gifs, almost everyone will likely be shooting video for the foreseeable future. But not everyone will be doing it professionally. Read on to learn some basic techniques for shooting great-looking video that will keep you ahead of the pack.

Know Your Settings

Read your camera’s user manual and get familiar with all the functions before you begin shooting. You don’t was to lose that sunset light or cut into your model’s happy hour because you had to look up how to set your white balance. Know how to access the menu functions quickly and confidently so you can shoot more efficiently.

Get It Together

Before you head out in the field, make sure you have everything you need for a successful shoot. Don’t forget about those small but essential accessories, like extra batteries and media cards; any lighting or audio accessories, like a wind screen for your microphone; and last but not least, a lens-cleaning kit to keep that glass dust free. Charge all your batteries, format all your media cards, and get ready to shoot!

Composition

Composition is how you arrange or position your subject(s) in the camera’s frame. Bad composition can make an attractive image look boring, but a well composed frame can make an ordinary scene look unique. There are many laws when it comes to composition. It’s important to understand the basic formulas, but try not overthink it too much. Not every “rule” will work in every environment, so experiment with these when the time is right.

Light It or Lose It

Lighting is the most important element when it comes to video and photography. Bad light can ruin a perfect shot. When working with natural light outdoors, it’s best to shoot around “golden hour,” just after sunrise and before sunset. Shooting during these times will give your scenes and subjects a softer, balanced light.

Camera Movements

Camera movements give filmmakers the ability to add drama, tension, and other emotions to the scene. They can also direct the viewer’s attention toward a subject or action within the frame. Keep in mind that camera movements should always be intentional.

Audio Is Essential

Audio is another extremely important element when capturing great video. Poorly recorded sound is not only distracting, but can also ruin an epic shot. Most video cameras come with low-quality on-camera mics, which might be enough for only recording ambient sound.

If you plan on recording interviews or voiceovers, though, you’ll want to invest in a small shotgun mic to mount on your camera. This will enhance your audio tremendously. If you have some deeper pockets and want to take your voice recordings to the next level, look into a lavalier system. This will give you the best quality for recording voices out in the field.

Review Your footage

Finally, always review and critique your footage after each shoot. Check everything from your lighting and exposure to your camera movements and sound. If you want to go even further, cut together a short sequence of your clips in an editing program like Adobe Premiere Pro, iMovie, or Final Cut. The more you work with your footage in an editing program, the better a cinematographer you’ll be.

Plan your video content.

Believe it or not, the content of your video matters a lot more than its quality.

That’s not to say quality isn’t important—it sure is! But if you had to give one aspect more attention, time and energy, it would be planning your content properly.

To plan your content, consider the following three video tips:

Outline your goal

What are you looking to achieve with your video? Are you trying to make people laugh? Are you trying to get them to visit your website? Are you promoting your product? Teaching them something new? Define your goal before moving on.

Identify your target audience

You can’t possibly target everyone in the world, because then who are you really talking to? Not having a clear vision of your ideal viewer groups will result in a diluted message within your video content. Your audience will determine the way you write your script, the way you shoot your video and the way you edit it. It will also determine where you distribute your videos depending on where your main audience hangs out online. Think of who you want to be seeing this, and then think of where on the internet they usually “hang out” so you can know to distribute it later.

Use the power of emotions

Emotions are what drive viewers to follow through with your call to action, whether that’s subscribing to your channel, sharing your video or buying your product. It’s been proven over and over again that emotions triggered by content are what drive the motivations to carry through with CTAs.

Choose A Camera-Friendly Location

You can shoot a video in your clinic as long as you have a suitable space to do so. To prepare for a video shoot, many of our clients select less clinical surroundings to create a feeling of less formality and ease. Sadly, many clinic facilities are awash in seas of grey and beige, which is not ideal. Unless your clinic facilities offer an aesthetically pleasing look and feel, we suggest you choose a hotel meeting room or conference facility. Ideally, to prepare for a video shoot you’ll want to consider clean, eye-friendly backgrounds and wall colours with as little clutter as possible. Movement in the background works fine as long as it’s not distracting.

Choose A Long And Deep Room Size

We like to have some depth in the room so that we can choose where to place the cameras and the subject (you) to get a depth of field. Depth of field gives us a great contrast between the subject (you) and the background at a distance, blurring the background so that you stand out better. You can especially see that effect in this example below of Samer Hamada. Notice the background behind him is soft and pleasant. There’s even a little movement behind the window to add a little bit of energy to the scene. By the way, this effect is difficult (if not impossible) to achieve using phone cameras. However, it’s possible to add this blur effect in post-production.

Choose your wardrobe deliberately to prepare for a video shoot

When it comes to dress, women have much more flexibility than men, but that can also pose challenges.

We advise women to wear a suit or dress and shirt that coordinates with their brand colours. We advise men to not wear scrubs or white lab coats because it can put some patients off – especially those with a phobia of doctors, hospitals or surgery. Instead, we advise men to wear a jacket and tie that coordinates with their brand colours.

Brand colours are important because your video will appear in many places associated with your brand, including your website, your YouTube channel and other social media. You want your appearance to suit.

Both genders should avoid stripes or highly-detailed patterned shirts that might cause camera distortion. Solid colours tend to work best.

Women should use a matte foundation to reduce shine on the face. Depending on hair length, both men and women benefit from putting some hairspray on their fingers and patting their hair down to prevent flyaway hair.

If the shoot plan calls for above the waist shots only (most do) then wearing jeans is probably preferable for comfort. Bring a pair of suit trousers and smart shoes if you think you’ll need them.

Shallow Depth of Field

There’s very few things as noticeably cinematic as a shallow depth of field. If you’re not already familiar with the term, depth of field refers to the portion of the frame that is in focus. A camera like an iPhone has a very wide depth of field, meaning it’s very hard to get a background out of focus. A DSLR style camera can get an out-of-focus background very easily.

If you’re determined to get the most cinematic footage possible on a budget, you should definitely look into using a DSLR or mirrorless photographic-style camera instead of a camcorder.

High Dynamic Range

Dynamic range refers to your camera’s ability to simultaneously record both bright and dark areas simultaneously. To illustrate the point, think about terrible local news footage. In most of their footage you’ll likely see a reporter standing under direct sunlight with a sky that is completely white. This is incredibly distracting and it will look terrible to an audience in a theater. Now contrast that with the footage from The Revenant trailer where you can see details in the clouds and in the ground at the same time.

Back in the day (5 years ago), cameras with high dynamic ranges were very expensive. But with recent advancements in technology, notably from Blackmagic Design, you can now get beautifully balanced images for an affordable price.

Practical New Electric Circuits Challenges And Solutions

Wiring for electric appliances

Ring circuit

The ordinary wall sockets around the house are normally connected to a ring circuit (also referred to as a ring main). The ring circuits of a domestic property supply the socket outlets and fixed appliances in the premises.

The ‘ring’ is formed by the cable going from the consumer unit to the first socket, then on to the second socket and then the next socket etc. until the cable returns to the consumer unit. This means (in simple terms) that every socket on the ring circuit has two cable routes back to the supply. The cable of the ring circuit consists of a brown (live) wire, a blue (neutral) wire and a bare copper earth wire, all three being enclosed by an outer PVC sheathing. The cable used in domestic ring circuits is either 2.5sq mm or 4.0sq mm twin core and earth, these are rated (in free air) at 24amps or 32amps respectively.

Each ring circuit is protected by a 32 amp fuse or trip fitted in the consumer unit. Modern installations incorporate a Residual Current Device (RCD) before the consumer unit which trips the whole system off if a fault is detected.

In older houses the cabling for ring circuits (and other circuits) may be fed through the wall cavity with the cables coming into the back of the wall mounted socket. This is unacceptable in new premises and extensions. It is now considered that cables within the cavity may become wet causing the insulation of the cable to break down and moisture running down the cable into the socket. When rewiring older houses, new cables should not be run through the cavity, they should be run through new ducting embedded in the inner wall surfaces or under floorboards.

A ring circuit is considered to be rated at 30amps (7200 watts). A ring may serve up to 100 m sq of floor area and, in theory, may have any number of sockets outlets or fused connection units connected to it. With each socket outlet is normally rated at 13 amps, as a ‘rule of thumb’, they are limited to under twenty outlets, it is unlikely that the variety of domestic appliances being used at any one time will exceed 30amps. The length of cable used in a ring circuit is limited to 50 metres for circuits protected by an MCB. The sockets are normally mounted flush with the wall although surface mounted boxes are often easier to fit when sockets are added to the circuit.

How much does it cost to replace a circuit breaker switch?

Circuit breaker panels and fuse boxes serve a similar purpose—to protect an overloaded electrical circuit by interrupting the flow of electricity—but they work differently. A fuse is made of a piece of metal that melts when overheated, interrupting the electrical flow. A circuit breaker has an internal switch that is tripped by an unsafe surge of electricity. Fuses interrupt the flow of power faster but must be replaced after they melt. Circuit breakers can simply be reset. A circuit breaker panel is essentially a big switch made up of smaller switches that correspond to certain electrical zones in a building. Should one of the switches fail, an electrician can replace it for approximately $120–$200, depending on the region

Additional wiring

If any additional wiring repairs or rewiring are needed, it will cost extra. Most electricians charge by the hour for wiring work, with rates starting around $40–$50 and going up to $90 in some areas. Materials costs will be on top of the hourly rate and include the wires as well as any other materials needed to replace drywall or other interior finishes.

Replacing the panel

In some older homes, it’s not uncommon for circuit breakers to frequently trip—which can indicate that it’s time to update the entire panel. An updated panel increases the power available to all the appliances and devices in the home. The minimum amps required in modern homes is 100, but a typical 2,000-square-foot home should have a 200-amp panel. Most electricians charge $1,250–$3,000 to upgrade an existing panel to 200 amps, depending on how much work is involved (rewiring, relocating the panel, etc.). If the circuit breaker panel needs to be relocated, it can cost an additional $500–$1,000 to cover the cost of moving wiring and installing the panel in its new location.

Other electrical upgrades

Older homes can require any number of electrical upgrades to safely supply enough power to modern appliances and electronic devices. Some updates, such as installing new ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) power outlets, are straightforward and typically cost $100–$200 each. These outlets are self-grounding and are now required in all new kitchens, bathrooms, crawl spaces, unfinished basements and most outdoor receptacles.

Other updates are more expensive and time-consuming. Updating knob-and-tube wiring, for example, could cost $8,000–$15,000 in a large home wiring is not always hazardous, but the materials used—in particular, the rubber wire coverings—can become brittle over time, which can make electrical connections unreliable or, in some cases, can increase the chance of an electrical short or fire

Building Regulations: General information

If an installer is not registered, then certain riskier jobs (identified as ‘notifiable’ in the Building Regulations) will need to be inspected, approved and certificated by:

A building control body (your local authority or a private approved inspector), or

an electrician registered with a third-party certification scheme (a ‘registered third-party certifier’).

The building control body or registered third-party certifier must be notified before work starts.

Notifiable jobs include:

The installation of a new consumer unit or fuse box

The installation of a complete new circuit – for example a ring or lighting circuit, or a new circuit for a cooker, shower or immersion heater

Alterations to existing circuits – such as adding an extra power point or lighting point – but only in ‘special locations’. special locations are the spaces around baths and showers. special locations include also kitchens and outdoors.

Most repairs, replacements and maintenance jobs, and alterations or additions to existing circuits outside special locations, are not notifiable. The Building Regulations set out overall criteria and requirements to ensure electrical safety. Approved Document P provides further practical guidance for undertaking this type of work. You should bear in mind that any electrical work you carry out within your home, garden, garage, shed or other storage building must comply with the requirements of the Building Regulations. If you are unsure about the requirements, you should contact your local authority’s building control department.

The Building Regulations set standards for electrical installation work only in relation to dwellings (houses, flats etc). If the work is carried out in industrial or commercial buildings it is covered by the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is responsible for making sure that electrical installation work in these kinds of buildings is safe and if you have any queries about work in these buildings you should contact the HSE.

Fuse Box and Consumer Unit Replacement and Costs

What is the difference between a fuse box and an electrical consumer unit?

A fuse box and a consumer unit serve the same purpose. They distribute electricity in your house through multiple circuits and instantly turn the power off whenever a power overload occurs on one of the circuits, which is commonly known as “tripping”.

When “tripping” occurs, a consumer unit will switch the power off using the circuit breaker linked to the overloaded circuit. It will turn itself to the position OFF making the faulty circuit easily identifiable. Once the circuit is fixed, the circuit breaker can be switched back on and the power restored.

A fuse box uses fuses instead of circuit breakers. Each fuse contains a wire which will melt if there is an electrical overload and make the circuit trip and switch the power off.

It is not as easy to identify a faulty circuit when using a fuse box and the, now melted fuse, will need to be replaced before the power can be restored. Consumer units are basically the modern and safer version of fuse boxes which in most cases are no longer compliant with current electrical regulations.

How do I know if I have an old-fashioned fuse box?

It’s very easy to tell if you have an old-style fuse box or a more modern consumer unit. An old-style fuse box will have a series of fuses contained inside fuse carrier which you can manually remove and replace when one of them goes off following a power overload.

RCDs Explained

What is an RCD?

An RCD, or residual current device, is a life-saving device which is designed to prevent you from getting a fatal electric shock if you touch something live, such as a bare wire. It can also provide some protection against electrical fires. RCDs offer a level of personal protection that ordinary fuses and circuit-breakers cannot provide.

What does an RCD do?

An RCD is a sensitive safety device that switches off electricity automatically if there is a fault. An RCD is designed to protect against the risks of electrocution and fire caused by earth faults. For example, if you cut through the cable when mowing the lawn and accidentally touched the exposed live wires or a faulty appliance overheats causing electric current to flow to earth

How does it work?

An RCD constantly monitors the electric current flowing through one or more circuits it is used to protect. If it detects electricity flowing down an unintended path, such as through a person who has touched a live part, the RCD will switch the circuit off very quickly, significantly reducing the risk of death or serious injury.

What are the main types of RCD?

RCDs can help protect you from electric shock in potentially dangerous areas like bathrooms and gardens, and there are various types of RCDs that can be used to make sure you are always as safe as possible

Fixed RCDs

These are installed in the consumer unit (fusebox) and can provide protection to individual or groups of circuits. A fixed RCD provides the highest level of protection as it protects all the wiring and the sockets on a circuit, and any connected appliances.

Getting Familiar With Dog Bite Lawyer

Benefits of Hiring a Dog Bite Attorney

What Should You Do After a Dog Attack?

Since dog bites happen every day you need to be prepared in case it happens to you. If you or a loved one was injured by a dog this is what you should do:

Get medical treatment as soon as possible: The first thing you need to do if a loved one is injured by a dog or other animal is to seek proper medical attention. Some injuries may appear to be minor at first but you should always get them checked out by a doctor at the emergency room. Don’t delay on medical treatment as it may have a long-lasting impact.
Get information on the dog that bit you: If you can identify the dog that bit you, this will help you with your personal injury claim. If you know the homeowners where the incident occurred this is also helpful. Since the owner is the responsible person under California law it’s essential that you identify who they were and get their contact information.
Report the incident: It’s important that you report the attack to the police or animal control agency in the area. This is the first step you can take in preventing similar attacks by the same dog in the future. It also provides a record of the incident and they can determine if this was part of the dog’s pattern.
Take pictures and collect evidence: Collecting evidence after a dog attack starts with getting good records. In addition to the homeowner’s names and contact information, you need to document your injuries. Take pictures of your injuries and record the impact the injuries have on your day to day life.
Do not sign anything with an insurance company without talking to a lawyer first: Insurance companies may seem quick to help and write a check after a dog attack incident, but there could be more damage. If you sign something or indicate that you’re not injured you could hurt your case. It’s essential that you talk with a California Personal injury lawyer right away before talking to an insurance company.

Key Benefits Of Hiring A Dog Bite Lawyer To Handle Your Case

Being the victim of a vicious dog attack can leave emotional and physical scars that can stay with you for a very long time. If a dog bite has left you permanently disfigured and psychologically affected for life, you deserve compensation for your ordeal. Animals are wild by nature and even the most trained and docile dogs can and do go on the attack. Sometimes dogs are bred by their owners to be vicious. In either case, their teeth and claws are considered dangerous weapons. This is why those owners need to be held accountable for the aggression displayed by their pets.

Whether you were victimized yourself or witnessed your child or other loved one endure a traumatizing attack, it’s important you consult with a dog bite lawyer in Los Angeles right away to increase your chances of securing fair compensation. Our experienced lawyers work with dog bite lawsuits every day and will do whatever we can to hold the dog owner responsible.

Every day in this country, about 1,000 people seek care in emergency rooms for serious dog bite injuries. Each year, 9,500 people are hospitalized for those injuries and 900 die, according to DogsBite.org. If you or a loved one have been impacted by a dog bite, we can help you. Let’s explore the key benefits of hiring a dog bite lawyer in Los Angeles to handle your case.

Expert Negotiation Skills

Most people fear negotiations due to the conflict, tenacity and diligence it takes to do it right. But a dog bite lawyer handles these types of cases for a living and has extensive experience dealing with insurance companies. While you may likely be confused over whether the settlement offered by your insurance company is fair, your attorney knows it isn’t and can fight for more. Just because you received an offer from the insurance company doesn’t mean you should accept it. An experienced attorney can review the offer and counter with the amount you truly deserve. Often times, this process can go back and forth several times until the right amount is agreed on. If you don’t have the time, patience, follow through or resources to push repeatedly for what you deserve, you’re best off hiring a dog bite lawyer in Los Angeles to do this for you. Another bonus: because of our track record of perseverance, insurance companies fear us. This puts us in a good negotiating position right out of the gate.

Vast Legal Knowledge

Likewise, the general public doesn’t have a firm grasp of the intricacies of California law. Those laws are extremely complex, and it’s our full-time job to know them inside and out. You likely have your own job you’re trying to keep up with, especially in light of your recent injuries. You’re also dealing with a lot on your plate as you try to recover from your attack or nurse your loved one back to health. An experienced attorney understands how to interpret the laws and use that knowledge to help you make a fair recovery.

Experience

With the prevalence of online legal sites these days, everyone thinks they know how to successfully negotiate their own case. However, the truth is, online resources can be helpful but they can’t replace personal, professional experience. Dog bite lawyers handle these types of cases every single day. Chances are, they’ve seen a similar case to yours this week alone. They can use those case studies and examples to educate you on the process, show you what to expect and get the full compensation you deserve.

Proving Related Complications

A dog bite itself may not seem serious at first, even if it hurts. But over time, a bite may result in more serious medical complications that can be simultaneously painful and expensive. In these cases, it is best to contact a lawyer who can work with you to prove that said complications are indeed the result of the initial bite. Proving this on your own can be near impossible, often simply devolving into a case of “he said, she said” in court. On the other hand, an attorney can build a convincing case with the help of medical professionals testifying on your behalf, leaving no doubt that the dog bite is to blame for resulting medical issues.

Proving Liability

Another major aspect of dog bite cases is that of liability, which is more complicated and nuanced than it may seem at first glance. However, a knowledgeable attorney is capable of working with you to ensure that the liable party is charged appropriately. For example, a lawyer may discover during the collection of evidence that the dog’s owner actually had knowledge of the dog attacking others in the past and was negligent in not taking the necessary, subsequent precautions. This is just one instance in which an attorney can define a case in your favor.

Defending False Charges

It may be that the dog’s owner seeks to pin liability on you, claiming perhaps that you were on their property illegally, or that you provoked the dog in a way that caused it to attack in self-defense. Without the aid of an attorney, it may be unlikely that you can argue against these charges successfully in court. Conversely, an attorney that is familiar with charges commonly brought against victims of a dog bite can work effectively to have these charges dismissed and your claim reviewed fairly.

Knowledge of Dog Bite Laws

Every state in the country, including California, has dog bite laws covering various types of claims. California’s dog bite law, section 3342 of the Civil Code, states that the owner of any dog is liable for damages if:

A dog bite caused the injuries
The person bitten was in a public place or lawfully in a private place.

A lawyer can help you begin a claim against the pet owner for medical expenses, lost wages, pain, and suffering, and injuries that resulted in disfigurement, fractures, or cosmetic surgery. An experienced lawyer understands how to interpret dog bite laws and will be up-to-date on the relevant legislation.

Access to Valuable Resources

When you hire a dog bite lawyer, there’s a team of people who contribute to your case. There may be a lead attorney, a paralegal who does the research, and investigators who collect the evidence. To handle such complex matters, it usually takes a team of skilled and experienced individuals who’ve been doing this for years. This is why hiring a lawyer will ensure you don’t have to go through any stage of the process alone.

Types of Compensation You May Be Entitled To

Although the law in California is geared towards actual bites you may be eligible for compensation for other animal-related injuries as well. You will need to speak with an attorney to get a good idea of if you have a case or not. In California, GJEL seeks to recover the maximum amount possible to take care of our clients.

This doesn’t just include medical bills. In a typical personal injury case we will look at a variety of factors and you may be able to get compensated for:

Medical bills resulting from the injury (past and future)
Pain and suffering
Loss of earnings from missing work due to the injury
Reduction of lifetime earnings due to the inability to do your job properly
Changes to your lifestyle from the injury
Lifetime care and medical expenses if necessary

Drinking Water Testing And Ensuring A Healthy Pregnancy

Drinking Water Testing

Monitoring drinking water quality for thousands of chemicals in a single analysis

Clean drinking water is essential for life, but our water quality is threatened by 1,000s of chemical contaminants, from everyday products that can seep into drinking water supplies, to runoff and ground water discharge

Drinking water quality testing is fundamental to protecting our drinking water supplies and ensuring safety. supports these efforts by offering sensitive and accurate LC/MS/MS systems for efficient water quality testing for a vast range of drinking water contaminants – monitored from source to consumer.

Drinking water tests typically require extensive sample preparation to achieve the ultra-low detection limits required by regulations. LC/MS/MS solutions for drinking water quality testing provides labs with:

Simplified workflows for direct injection of water samples for analysis – little sample preparation required

Enhanced sensitivity for reliable detection of trace chemical levels in samples

Flexibility to screen for both targeted and non-targeted contaminants at once

Diversity to analyze for many compound classes, including pesticides, herbicides, pharmaceuticals, organic chlorine compounds, industrial chemicals, complexing agents, and even unknown degradants or chemical by-products, in a single injection

Testing drinking water

The Department of Health recommends private well owners test their drinking water every year for coliform bacteria and nitrate. These two contaminates can rapidly affect a person’s health — possibly even with just one drink of water. In most counties when you sell a home with a private well, the county health or planning department or your lender may require you to provide water sampling results to show that your water is safe to drink. You may also want to test your private well if flooding has occurred in your area.

If you own a private well, you are responsible for testing your own water. Some counties have water quality testing services available through local health departments and districts. We can help you find an accredited lab to help you test your well water for contaminants.

Find a lab

We regulate well construction. We also accredit laboratories that test water. Sampling your well water is easy — just contact an accredited lab. Labs that accept drinking water samples appear as light blue dots on the map below

Public water systems

The State Department of Health is in charge of drinking water for larger water systems. Most public water systems have water quality data available to the public. You can request a copy of their consumer confidence report.

Water Contamination

Safe drinking water is a critical component of human life, but pollution threatens many of our water supplies. Agriculture is one of the key causes of water pollution. Industrial activities, overflowing sewers and naturally occurring substances can also contaminate our drinking water. Knowing the signs of water contamination will help you take actions that will keep you and your family safe

Everything from agricultural runoff to lead pipes to byproducts of water decontamination can threaten our water’s safety. And the Safe Drinking Water Act that’s supposed to protect our drinking water doesn’t even look for toxic fluorinated compounds known as PFAS chemicals, even though the contaminants have been linked to cancer and birth defects.

Safe Drinking Water Act

The federal government regulates and protects our public drinking water via the Safe Drinking Water Act. The law, which was first enacted in 1974, covers water that comes from public sources, such as rivers, lakes, springs and groundwater wells. It does not cover private wells that provide water to fewer than 25 people.

DID YOU KNOW?

The Safe Drinking Water Act grants the Environmental Protection Agency the authority to set national health standards for drinking water and to set the legal limits on more than 90 contaminants.

Types of Contaminants

Numerous types of contaminants can threaten drinking water. They include everything from chemicals to pesticides to animal waste to industrial waste injected into the ground. Naturally occurring substances, such as arsenic, radon and fluoride, can also contaminate groundwater.

DID YOU KNOW?

Every day, 2 million tons of sewage and other liquid waste pour into the world’s water supply. Contaminated water kills more people every year than all forms of violence, including war.

Water Testing

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends that private wells be tested annually. Without testing, the water quality is unknown and the water could be contaminated with natural-occurring or other contaminants.

Health Impacts of Water Contaminants

There are a variety of bacteria, parasites, and viruses that can potentially cause Well Water Quality if humans ingest them. Testing water for each of these would be difficult and expensive. Instead, water testing for total coliform levels serves as an indicator of contamination.

Coliform bacteria can enter well water through a variety of ways, including sewage overflows, damaged or malfunctioning sewage systems, polluted stormwater runoff, and agricultural runoff. Private wells may become more vulnerable to such contamination after flooding or fires, particularly if the wells are shallow, have been dug or bored, or have been submerged by floodwater for long periods of time.

Shock Chlorination

Bacterial contamination of well water can come from many sources. The most common include repairing the pump or casing without follow-up chlorination, surface water entering pump or casing, poor construction of the well, or leaks in the well or well casing.

Shock chlorination of a well may eliminate the bacterial contamination, but well rehabilitation may be necessary if contamination continues to occur (as in a rusted or leaking casing). If you plan to shock chlorinate your well yourself, follow instructions carefully to ensure bacteria is eliminated.

Water Testing Laboratory

offer testing services and provide information for private customers who have concerns about the quality and safety of their drinking water. can customise analyses to suit your needs and recommend that you contact the laboratory before you undertake sampling to ensure the correct type of samples are taken.

Testing services

Our Laboratory is accredited with International Accreditation for a range of chemical and microbiological tests. We are also able to subcontract specialised tests which we do not perform ourselves. Our staff can collect samples from throughout Whangarei district.

The laboratory is involved in:

testing Whangarei and surrounding district’s drinking water and ensuring the safety of the supply

monitoring the district’s sewage discharges to ensure consent requirements are met

sampling and testing swimming pool water

industrial waste testing

other specialised tests for private customers.

drinking water is recommended to meet the standards set out by the Ministry of Health. We ensure that all households using the town water supply receive drinking water which complies with these standards.

Compliance report

To indicate compliance with Drinking Water Standards 2008, the water will be tested for E coli. A written report detailing NZ Drinking Water Compliance will be issued.

How Certified Public Accountants Become Forensic Accountant

Explanation of T Account, Debit and Credit, and Double Entry Accounting System

What are T Accounts?

If you want a career in accounting, T Accounts may be your new best friend. The T Account is a visual representation of individual accounts that looks like a “T”, making it so that all additions and subtractions (debits and credits) to the account can be easily tracked and represented visually.

Debits and Credits for T Accounts

When most people hear the term debits and credits, they think of debit cards and credit cards. In accounting, however, debits and credits refer to completely different things.

Debits and Credits are simply accounting jargon that can be traced back hundreds of years and that is still used in today’s double-entry accounting system. A double-entry accounting system means that every transaction that a company makes is recorded in at least two accounts, where one account gets a “debit” entry while another account gets a “credit” entry.

These entries are recorded as journal entries in the company’s books.

Debits and credits can mean either increasing or decreasing for different accounts, but their T Account representations look the same in terms of left and right positioning in relation to the “T”.

T Accounts Explained

The left side of the Account is always the debit side and the right side is always the credit side, no matter what the account is.

For different accounts, debits and credits can mean either an increase or a decrease, but in a T Account, the debit is always on the left side and credit on the right side, by convention.

Let’s take a more in-depth look at the T accounts for different accounts namely, assets, liabilities, and shareholder’s equity, the major components of the balance sheet or statement of financial position.

For asset accounts, which include cash, accounts receivable, inventory, PP&E, and others, the left side of the T Account (debit side) is always an increase to the account. The right side (credit side) is conversely, a decrease to the asset account. For liabilities and equity accounts, however, debits always signify a decrease to the account, while credits always signify an increase to the account.

Understanding T-Account

In double-entry bookkeeping, a widespread accounting method, all financial transactions are considered to affect at least two of a company’s accounts. One account will get a debit entry, while the second will get a credit entry to record each transaction that occurs.

The credits and debits are recorded in a general ledger, where all account balances must match. The visual appearance of the ledger journal of individual accounts resembles a T-shape, hence why a ledger account is also called a T-account.

A T-account is the graphical representation of a general ledger that records a business’ transactions. It consists of the following:

An account title at the top horizontal line of the T
A debit side on the left
A credit side on the right

Why Do Accountants Use T Accounts?

Accountants use T accounts in order to make double entry system bookkeeping easier to manage.

A double entry system is a detailed bookkeeping process where every entry has an additional corresponding entry to a different account. Consider the word “double” in “double entry” standing for “debit” and “credit”. The two totals for each must balance, otherwise there is an error in the recording.

A double entry system is considered complex and is employed by accountants or CPAs (Certified Public Accountants). The information they enter needs to be recorded in an easy to understand way. This is why a T account structure is used, to clearly mark the separation between “debits” and “credits”.

It would be considered best practice for an accounting department of any business (that is not using a single entry method of accounting) to employ a T account structure in their general ledger.

Introduction to Debits and Credits

Did you know? You can earn our Debits and Credits Certificate of Achievement when you join PRO Plus. To help you master this topic and earn your certificate, you will also receive lifetime access to our premium debits and credits materials. These include our visual tutorial, flashcards, cheat sheet, quick tests, quick test with coaching, and more.

What are debits and credits?

Debits and credits are terms used by bookkeepers and accountants when recording transactions in the accounting records. The amount in every transaction must be entered in one account as a debit (left side of the account) and in another account as a credit (right side of the account). This double-entry system provides accuracy in the accounting records and financial statements.

The initial challenge is understanding which account will have the debit entry and which account will have the credit entry. Before we explain and illustrate the debits and credits in accounting and bookkeeping, we will discuss the accounts in which the debits and credits will be entered or posted.

The Double-Entry Accounting System

Double-entry bookkeeping was developed in the mercantile period of Europe to help rationalize commercial transactions and make trade more efficient. It also helped merchants and bankers understand their costs and profits. Some thinkers have argued that double-entry accounting was a key calculative technology responsible for the birth of capitalism.

The accounting equation forms the foundation of the double-entry accounting and is a concise representation of a concept that expands into the complex, expanded and multi-item display of the balance sheet. The balance sheet is based on the double-entry accounting system where total assets of a company are equal to the total of liabilities and shareholder equity.

Essentially, the representation equates all uses of capital (assets) to all sources of capital (where debt capital leads to liabilities and equity capital leads to shareholders’ equity). For a company keeping accurate accounts, every single business transaction will be represented in at least of its two accounts.

For instance, if a business takes a loan from a financial entity like a bank, the borrowed money will raise the company’s assets and the loan liability will also rise by an equivalent amount. If a business buys raw material by paying cash, it will lead to an increase in the inventory (asset) while reducing cash capital (another asset). Because there are two or more accounts affected by every transaction carried out by a company, the accounting system is referred to as double-entry accounting.

This practice ensures that the accounting equation always remains balanced – that is, the left side value of the equation will always match with the right side value.

Learn How To Look For Professional House Cleaning Services

The Ultimate House Cleaning Guide

Whether you clean your own home on a regular basis, or clean others’ for a living, you can understand when we say it is a dirty job! Dirt, dust, spills, and grime, there are a lot of different messes you encounter when cleaning a home. The best advice from any house cleaning expert is to pick-up and put away on a regular basis. This means divide your housework into daily, weekly, and monthly tasks. That way your cleaning to-do list is more manageable.

Daily Tasks

The first thing most people do in the morning after getting dressed is make their bed. It may seem like an insignificant thing to do, but it really helps to give your home that neat and organized feeling.

From there, tackle the kitchen. This can range from emptying the dishwasher, putting away breakfast bowls, cereal boxes, and plates, to wiping down countertops, the kitchen table and take out the garbage. No one wants to come home after a day of school or work to find more work in terms of a dirty or stinky kitchen!

Once the kitchen has been dealt with, don’t overlook the bathroom after you’ve used it in the morning. This might include wiping the countertops, putting away hair and toothbrushes, and making sure towels are hung up. All of these are small steps that go a long way to helping you keep your home clean.

Weekly Tasks

Start with dusting all of the surfaces in your home. Vacuum all of your rugs, sweep your hardwood or tile floors and then finish up by mopping them. Change and launder all bed sheets, duvet and pillow covers; wash bath mats, towels, or any other floor coverings. Clean out your refrigerator and your freezer, discarding anything that is no longer edible. Wipe down your toaster over, the inside of your microwave, and oven (some ovens have the self-cleaning option); not to mention clean your stovetop as well. Scrub your bathtub, sinks and toilets to make sure they’re spotless. Fluff and rotate pillows on your sofa or other seating areas. Sort through the pile of paper work that is sitting by your bedside on in your study, remember if you don’t do it now it won’t get any smaller by itself. And don’t forget to clean all the hand and animal paw prints from the windows, mirrors and other glass surfaces.

Should I have the house cleaner in my home? What about the plumber? Here’s what the experts say

Is there a risk to having people in your home, such as house cleaners and plumbers?

Answer: Yes. Every time another person comes within 6 feet there is a risk of transmission, and that’s why our experts recommend that you factor in the possible risk when deciding who should come to the home.

Process:

In an attempt to “flatten the curve,” people across the globe are attempting to practice social distancing. This has prompted questions online about who should be allowed to come to the home. “Is it safe to have your house cleaned by outside workers,” asked on person in an email to the Verify Team. And of course, it’s not just house-cleaners. What about the plumber or the electrician? The Verify Team turned to the experts to get a feel for the possible risk.

The Centers For Disease Control and Prevention did not offer a clear-cut yes or no answer. Instead, they offered guidelines that all people should follow. The CDC said special precautions should be taken by those who are older, or have an underlining health issue. “(They should) prohibit visitors who do not have an essential need to be in the home.“ Meanwhile, the CDC said everyone else should also practice social distancing by limiting “close contact with others as much as possible.”

agreed that people should take the risk seriously. “In general, not having people in your house who are not essential would be my recommendation,” he said. Price said that he made the decision to tell the housekeeper not to come this week for this reason.

The Verify Team also reached out to the American Association of Cleaning Professionals. A spokesperson said that they are recommending work as normal, although recommending that cleaners wear gloves and face masks.

How to clean a hotel room – A guide for housekeepers and travellers

First rule of hotel housekeeping

Every respectful hotel cleaner will knock and announce themselves ( say HOUSEKEEPING) at least twice before unlocking a guest’s door and then again upon entry. As a traveller, if you do not want housekeeping staff to knock on your door, hang the DO NOT DISTURB sign on the outside door handle.

Hotel cleaning: a step-by-step guide

To keep things simple, here’s a numbered list of steps to take when cleaning a hotel room. If you’re a hotel guest, you can use this as a guide to know what should have been cleaned before you checked in.

Clean a hotel room bedroom

Strip the beds of all sheets and pillowcases. Inspect mattress and pillow protectors; blankets and quilts for stains. Change when necessary. Sorry travellers but these items are not changed between each guest (I wish they were).

Make the bed by laying the bottom sheet over the mattress. Tuck the sheet at the top end of the bed only. This will secure the sheet so it does not “come loose” when the guest is in bed. Next, lay down the top sheet. Lay down the blanket. If the triple sheet method if used, apply that over top of everything. Now, tuck the sheets and the blanket all together on 3 sides of the bed, with hospital corners at the bottom. There is NO need to round that bed more than once or twice. Smooth the quilt, duvet, doona, whatever is being used on top, over the bed and make it look nice and neat. Stand fluffed, freshly covered pillows at the head of the bed. Apply bed accessories (footers and throw pillows) as per hotel decor.

Empty the rubbish bins. If there is dry garbage only, use gloved hands to remove and save a plastic bag. Use discretion here.

Dust all furniture and picture frames with a slightly damp, clean cloth.

Wipe baseboards and spot clean walls if needed.

Check balcony for rubbish and lock sliding glass door.

Sanitise the TV remote and telephone with the supplied cleaning product on a dry cloth. Do the same with the fridge, if the room has one.

Spot clean bedroom mirror and windows. Full window cleaning is usually done monthly or seasonally.

Replenish all guest room amenities: tissues, stationery, coffee, tea, sugar and milk.

Wash glasses and coffee mugs in the bathroom with hot water and soap. Dry with a clean tea towel.

Check all drawers and wardrobes for items that may have been left behind. Push hangers to one side of the closet. Check extra pillows and blankets for use and neatness.

Vacuum the floor, including under the bed(s).

I personally don’t believe that strong chemicals are needed throughout the bathroom but for simplicity, I will go with standard hotel practice here.

Remove all used towels.

Discard all used soap, shampoo and lotion.

Empty the bin.

Check toilet paper levels. If less than 1/3 left on the roll, replace with a new roll and fold to make a neat triangle. Keep the unused roll for use in hotel staff bathrooms. Be sure there is a spare roll in the bathroom too.

Clean the mirror with clean water. Dry with a streak-free micro-fibre cloth. Enjo is best if you have it.

Spray the sink, bathtub, shower and toilet with supplied cleaner. Go light. Chemicals are harsh on skin, lungs and the environment.

Use a clean, wet cloth to wipe (and scrub if necessary) the sink, bench-tops, bathtub and shower tiles. Check shower grout for mould. Rinse excess cleaner, then dry all surfaces with a clean, dry cloth/rag.

Do the same with the toilet, inside and out. Any cloth used on the toilet must not be used on any other surfaces.

Wipe down bathroom walls when soiled or splashed.

Fold clean towels and bathmat to the hotel’s standards and place either in the bathroom or on the beds.

Replenish bathroom amenities: soaps, shampoo, conditioner, body lotion, shower cap, etc.

Scan the bathroom surfaces for hair. Be sure to remove any stray hairs you may have missed during cleaning.

Wipe the floor tiles with a damp cloth. Mops just spread dirty water and bacteria around. They should not be used.

How Much Does House Cleaning Service Cost?

The standard house cleaning cost per hour can be around $30 to $40. For a 180m2 home with two bedrooms and one bathroom, expect to pay around $240. Prices vary depending on your location and other inclusions to add. Some home cleaners charge on an hourly basis. Others provide fixed rates for services which may take longer to complete. For instance, end of lease cleaning may cost tenants around $250 (two-bedroom unit).

Paying for a home cleaning service gives you more time for leisure and other important activities. It pays to know how professional cleaners charge and for what type of cleaning jobs the cost may fluctuate to help you manage your finances.

Labour Rates for House Cleaners

Most home cleaners charge an hourly rate of around $30 to $40. Prices differ based on the demand for professional house cleaning jobs and other factors.

What are the Factors that Affect House Cleaning Prices?

Size of your home

The size of your home largely affects how you will be charged. Some home cleaners measure their rates per room or square metre depending on the requirements. For example, cleaning a one-bedroom unit with one bathroom can take two to three hours to complete. Homeowners with a double-storey residential property pay more due to the number of rooms to clean.

Location

Hiring a professional cleaner outside your vicinity may attract increased costs. Expect to pay extra fees for transportation and call outs. Consider the business location of your prospective house cleaner to keep you from incurring additional costs.

How to Clean Your Entire House in 45 Minutes

Your bachelor pad. Your family home. That apartment with all the architectural detail and the amazing view. Wherever you live, houses get messy. And they stay that way, until you clean them. When your plans to let someone inside ends up happening before your hopes of getting your home back to normal, then it’s time to clean it. Quickly.

45:00 – Pick a music album (or playlist) you know and love. Not Ramones-length short, but no double LPs here either. An average 12-14 song album that you can sing along to and not focus on. Your house will be clean by the time the secret bonus track comes on.

44:00 – Fill up the sink with hot soapy water. Or, if you have a dishwasher, make sure it’s empty with the racks pulled out. You’re gonna need somewhere to place all the dirty plates and coffee mugs lying around all over the house.

42:00 – Start in the Bedroom.

Pick up all your laundry and put it in the hamper. Don’t worry about emptying pockets or removing belts or turning socks right side out – just get it off the floor. If your hampers are overflowing, place items in laundry baskets and put them in the most hidden corner of your room.

Pick up any books and magazines and stack them neatly. Clean off dressers and side tables. Close all dresser drawers, making sure there’s no little pieces of sock or t-shirt sticking out of the closure.

Make your bed like you mean it. Arrange pillows neatly.

38:00 – Begin the bathroom and kitchen. You can’t make the whole thing spotless, so focus on the areas that need the most help. Use time and the power of the cleaners to your advantage.

Put your toiletries and daily use items away and where they belong. Hang up towels.

Then spray the hard surfaces with bathroom cleaner. Get the sink, faucet, outside of the toilet, and the bottom of the tub or shower. You can use the shower curtain or doors to your advantage. Just clean the outside. (Unless you know someone will be using it. Then spray away.)

Fill the toilet bowl with toilet cleaner, getting as high up as possible (that’s where the real crud lives).

Spray cleanser on the kitchen surfaces: stovetop, counters, and any sticky spots on the floor.

32:00 – Tackle the Living Room.

Deal with the surfaces: clean off the coffee table, entertainment cabinet, side tables etc. Stack books and magazines and place remote on top.

Fold blankets, then smooth cushions and neatly arrange pillows. It sounds fussy, but it’s amazing what a difference it will make.

Roll up any cables or cords, close and store your laptop, and turn on all lamps.

Embrace the stack. If you don’t have time to put things where they belong, place them on top of each other from largest to smallest. It might not look like an display of objets d’art, but it’ll look like you intentionally put them there. Which you did.

Understanding The Other Dental Specialty Your Dentist Might Practice

Important Questions to Ask Your Dentist

Going to the dentist regularly is not only important for your oral health, it’s also a key way to maintain your general health. Neglecting your teeth and gums can have a ripple effect on your overall health.

Dentists are seeing patients right now with precautions in place to stop the spread of COVID-19. Before you make an appointment, there are some questions you might want to ask a new dental provider. The right inquiries can provide you with the information you should know before, during and after your visit with the dentist.

Make the most out of your next visit by asking these important questions:

Do you accept my health plan?

This one is a no-brainer. Before you make your dental appointment, make sure your dentist accepts your health plan or that you can handle the out of pocket possibilities. Have your dental office confirm your benefits and discuss any fees that may be incurred.

What can I anticipate during my first exam?

To start the conversation, your dentist will ask about your dental and medical history, evaluate and record any fillings you may have, check for decay and periodontal conditions. They will take appropriate x-rays and explain any treatment that may be needed so you know exactly what to expect. If you anticipate anything out of the ordinary though, just be sure to ask.

How Do You Keep Up To Date On The Latest Procedures And Technology?

Assuring that you are getting up-to-date care should bring you peace of mind and ensure the fact that you are getting the best treatment available.

Is there anything different or unexpected going on with my oral health?

During your visit, your dentist will keep you posted on what they’re observing and how everything looks. They will make recommendations based on their findings and ask for any input you have along the way. Listen to their observations and ask questions if you don’t understand. Your dentist will probably appreciate the fact that you’re being an engaged patient.

What kind of maintenance plan and follow up appointment would you recommend for me?

After your appointment, your dentist will tell you how to keep your mouth healthy and clean and make suggestions on how this can be accomplished. Be sure to ask them about the details of your new routine before you leave the office.

Questions to ask when finding a new dentist

If you’re looking for a new dentist you will most likely be either because you are dissatisfied with your current dentist or have a particular dental issue which you need to resolve in a short period of time, either of those situations can be quite stressful, hence writing this article.

Are you taking all new patients.

It seems quite obvious to ask this question, the reality is that most dental practices will be taking on new patients but not all will be able to take on new NHS patients. NHS contracts have a specific number UDAs (units of dental activity) this needs to be carefully managed by the NHS dentist to ensure they have enough UDAs to go round all patients that need them. Private dentists on the other hand are usually limited in the number of patients they can see purely by the hours in the day and the length of time they wish to spend with each new patient.

What if i am anxious of the dentist.

Most people admit to having some kind of anxiety about going to the dentist. If this extends beyond this into a fear of phobia it’s always worth mentioning this to the dentist beforehand.

Many dental practices will have special protocols to help deal with anxious nervous patients, some dentists also offer dental sedation which can help you drift off into your own world during treatment.

Always mention any fear or anxiety about going to the dentist to the receptionist when you initially call, they can then put your mind at rest and modified their procedures if need be to help you relax.

Do you have any areas of special interest?

Some dentists, whilst being fully trained in general dental procedures will undertake further training in more specialised areas of dentistry. Some dentists take a Masters level degree in one of the specialist areas, these specialist areas are regulated by the General Dental Council in the UK.

Not all dentists decide to take this Masters level education but do however attend many ongoing and high quality training courses, in particular areas such as cosmetic dentistry or dental implants. If you have a particular concern which you would like addressed by your dentist it’s worth asking them if they have a special interest in or specialism in that particular area.

Can i pay by credit card.

If you have a particular means by which she would like to pay always remember to ask before treatment. Credit cards and debit cards are taken by most dental practices now but it’s good to ask just to be sure.

Do you have a membership scheme.

It might sound odd being a member of a dental practice, it’s hardly like being a member of a local gym! However, membership of a dental practice will often give you travel insurance, discounted rates for treatment and access to emergency dentistry which is not available to non-members. Membership at a dental practice can begin from approximately £12 per month.

Do you have a payment plan available?

Payment plans can be extremely useful for expensive treatments. Some dental implant and orthodontic or restorative treatments can run into many thousands of pounds so having a payment plan facility can make things more affordable on a monthly basis. Many dentists offer either payment plans or finance.

Will i have all recommendations in writing before going ahead?

This is an extremely important question to ask. No one wants to be taken by surprise with treatments they weren’t expecting or costs they hadn’t budgeted for. Your dentist should always give you a written treatment plan of exactly what is required prior to beginning treatment. The treatment plan should include the treatment specific to you, exactly what will happen and all costs involved.

What is your cancellation policy?

Unfortunately it is sometimes necessary to cancel appointments at the last minute. Being aware in advance of what your dentist cancellation policy is can save heartache and upset. Most dental practices will have a 24-hour cancellation policy, after this time many practices will charge if appointments are cancelled without very good cause.

Vacation Rentals Cleaning Management

VRMA and VRHP launch cleaning guidelines for SafeHome campaign

The Vacation Rental Housekeeping Professionals [ VRHP ], a subsidiary of the Vacation Rental Management Association [ VRMA ] has created a new set of cleaning guidelines for managers and owners of vacation rental properties to limit the spread of the coronavirus in the United States.

The guidelines come into effect as part of the joint VRMA and VRHP SafeHome campaign, which aims to empower association members to adopt a consistent set of cleaning safety standards and to openly communicate with guests and employees about the precautions they are taking.

Recommendations for augmenting existing cleaning programs include:

Disinfection and sanitisation techniques

Proper use of personal protective equipment [PPE]

Recommended products, cleaning agents and equipment

Updated cleaning and inspection processes for soft surfaces, upholstery and linens

Trash removal and maintenance processes

Communicating expanded cleaning processes to guests

“Housekeepers are responsible for completely resetting properties and creating a like-new experience for arriving guests. These new guidelines are intended to enhance the safety of properties, and provide more peace of mind for property owners and guests,” he added.

Both the VRMA and the VRHP say they will continue their efforts to educate and inform members and the professional vacation rental management community of evolving guidelines and recommendations, in order to provide a safe and enjoyable environment to guests, staff and the general public.

Vacation Rental Cleaning [Options & Costs]

There are many components involved in managing a vacation rental property. How you plan to keep it clean is arguably one of the highest priorities to consider, which is why it is crucial that you explore all your options before choosing the one that works best for you. Decide well in advance whether you plan to hire a cleaning service, do the work yourself, or use a company like Grand Welcome, which offers a comprehensive vacation rental management system.

Vacation Rental Cleaning Options

When guests arrive at your vacation rental property, they expect it to be immaculately clean, which means you need to pay attention to the details you may otherwise overlook. If clean dishes are still in the dishwasher instead of the cupboards or the picture frames have a layer of dust, it can quickly diminish the feeling of luxury they were hoping for.

House Cleaning vs. Housekeeping

Generally speaking, the term “housekeeping” is used to describe the type of cleaning that is done on an ongoing basis between guests. This type of service should be supplemented with a deep house cleaning at least once a year, or as needed. Deeper cleaning would include items like carpet cleaning, washing curtains and large appliances, and repairs and maintenance.

How to Clean Your Airbnb or Rental Property Yourself

Do you have to clean Airbnb properties? Yes, whether you are the property owner or a guest, you will need to do some cleaning in your vacation rental. If you’ve ever been an Airbnb quest, you were most likely charged a cleaning fee to cover some of the cost of housekeeping, and you also may have been asked to wash dishes or take the trash to outside garbage cans.

Vacation Rental Cleaning Services

Hiring someone to perform vacation rental cleaning services may be a better option if you do not live near your property or you want the job done by an expert. Someone from a cleaning service will have mastered a few trade skills, like how to complete each task in the most efficient and effective manner, as well as how to make a bed housekeeping-style so everything looks professional and inviting.

RENTER OBLIGATIONS

PLANNING FOR YOUR ARRIVAL

Your rental home will be cleaned and prepared for your arrival at 4pm on the day your rental begins. There will be 2 rolls of toilet paper in each bathroom, 1 paper towel roll at the kitchen sink, and pump-hand soaps at each sink. Beds will be made up with freshly cleaned linens and bath towels will be provided.

BEFORE YOU DEPART

Each renter should complete the following no later than 10:00 am on the final day of the rental:

Replace any furniture that was moved.

Remove trash from any garbage cans. Place used bags in town trash bins. Place recyclables in recyclables bin.

Leave the kitchen clean: Wipe countertops, and wash any dirty dishes.

Remove all food from the fridge or cupboards.

Turn any lights and appliances off.

Ensure any exterior windows and doors are closed and locked.

Reset the thermostat to temperature provided in welcome letter

Double-check all drawers and closets for personal items.

WAVERING FROM THE RENTAL AGREEMENT TERMS

You may be charged up to $1,000.00 additional in the event of a violation of our “no smoking”, “no pet” (if property is NOT pet friendly), or “maximum occupancy”, policies or neglectful damages which occurred during the tenancy. Additional housekeeping charges will be applied in the event for the need of extra cleaning by our staff and the occurrence of exceeding the maximum occupancy of the cottage. We charge $35 per hour for additional cleaning above and beyond normal expected cleaning times plus one hour.

DAMAGE PROTECTION PLAN

As a part of your stay, you may purchase a Vacation Rental Damage Protection plan designed to cover unintentional damages to the rental unit interior that occur during your stay provided they are disclosed to management prior to check-out. If purchased, the policy will pay a maximum benefit of $3,000.00. Any damages that exceed $3,000.00 or are not covered under the plan will be charged to the credit card on file. If, during your stay at one of our rental properties, an insured person causes any damage to real or personal property of the unit as a result of inadvertent acts or omissions, the Insurer will reimburse the Insured for the cost of repair or replacement of such property up to a maximum benefit of $3,000.00.

INCIDENT MANAGEMENT

Vacation Rentals and it’s Property Owners regret that they cannot be held responsible for failure of cable or Dish TV, high speed internet, or any special/unique property amenities. If an appliance breaks, there is a plumbing, heating, or cooling issue, we will make every effort to resolve the problem with as little inconvenience to our guest as possible.

Checklist for cleaning and prepping your vacation rental

Guests have successfully booked your vacation home meaning you did a great job on your property listing with Owner Direct. Congratulations! Now what? What should you do next to make sure you don’t fail the expectations of your guests? The answer: Go clean up and get your vacation rental ready for welcoming your guests. In the era of COVID-19 and heightened guest sensitivity upon us, having a clean and sanitized home is more important than ever.

Cleaning vacation rental checklist

Clean ALL your kitchen equipment and appliances (e.g. coffee maker, microwave oven, refrigerator, stove top, oven, grill, etc.).

Replace or remove defective or broken appliances, including light bulbs.

Replace furnace and air filters.

Empty dishwasher, washer, dryer, garbage bins, and fireplace (remove ashes).

Organize pantry and cupboards.

Replenish coffee filters, dish soap, hand soap, detergent, trash bags, etc.

Provide clean pot holders, dish towels and a new dish sponge.

Clean glass windows and doors to perfection. This is even more important when there’s a beautiful view through it, otherwise fingerprints, dust, dirt or hard water residues will ruin the view. Here’s a quick guide for cleaning glass windows and doors (applies to mirrors too).

Check the battery of the TV remote controls and smoke detectors. Replace as needed.

Vacuum floor, carpet, rugs, and sofa, including under seat cushions and furniture.

Dust and clean furniture, vents, blinds, lamps, ceiling fans, air conditioners, etc.

Wash rugs, curtains and blinds as needed.

Change bed sheets and pillowcases. For comforters, make sure it is not stained or spilled with anything or you will have to have them laundered. Opt for white bedding or other light neutral colors beige, ivory, taupe, black and gray to give your bedroom a hotel vibe.

Remove your personal belongings inside closets and drawers (powder tables, bedside tables, etc.).

Clean, scrub and sanitize toilet and bathrooms (walls, floors, bathtub, toilet, flush, door, faucets, shower, etc.).

Remove hair buildups in the drains.

Provide clean linens, hand towels, bath towels and washcloths.

Replace toilet flappers and toilet bowl brushes as needed.

Clean dryer lint trap and washing machine.

Short-term rentals providing updated cleaning guidelines due to pandemic

As we come up on a holiday weekend and more states are relaxing restrictions, people are considering getting away, but within driving distance and staying in short term rentals.

They’ve also released updated cleaning guidelines for property owners, things like disinfecting high-touch surfaces, building in time between bookings to avoid back-to-back stays, and stocking antibacterial soap, cleaners and hand sanitizer for guests.

Guests should also ask questions before booking.

“And it will be great for the property owners to hear those concerns directly from the incoming guests, so they can continue to make adjustments to attract those guests and figure out what they need to market and publish out on the various platforms,”

says guests should also ask about the surrounding community where they plan to stay, what stage of reopening are they at, and about things like mask requirements. “It’s a great way to open up that conversation with the property owner and also to determine are there any other concerns that anybody’s got that the property owner can address or that the guest wants to bring up,”

You’ll also want to ask about refunds and flexibility in canceling, because you don’t know if an area may suddenly see a surge in cases and have to close down again.

Some Things To Know When Protecting Your Baby From Mosquitoes

How to Get Rid of Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes can make our life really miserable. Besides causing constant annoyance and irritation, some species can also transmit deadly diseases. In fact mosquitoes are considered the deadliest animal on Earth, causing more death compared to any other animals. As mosquitoes are pervasive pests, the most effective way to get rid of mosquitoes is to arrange for specialized treatments by fully licensed pest control professionals.

IMM is a specially designed, holistic program proven to be an effective approach to mosquito control in the long run. It is targeted at every stage of the mosquito life cycle, through a simple 4-steps program which includes removing potential mosquito breeding grounds, larviciding, thermal fogging, and using adult mosquito traps. This integrated approach can effectively get rid of mosquitoes from the get-go.

Eliminate Mosquito Breeding Grounds

Eliminate Potential breeding grounds by frequently checking and removing stagnant water collected by unused items in the premises.

Common breeding grounds for Aedes mosquitoes include flower pot plate, unused container and hardened soil of potted plant.

Reducing potential breeding sites in your premises is crucial so that mosquitoes will have less

Larviciding

It is a treatment to control the development of mosquitoes’ larvae.

Larvicide treatment at mosquitoes hotspots can help to reduce its infestation.

A thorough inspection for any potential breeding ground will be conducted before we carry out

Thermal Fogging

Thermal fogging can be carried out to eliminate breeding of adult mosquitoes.

It is essential to fog at the right time when the mosquitoes are active to get a more effective control.

There are 2 types of fogging, namely water-based thermal fogging and diesel-based thermal fogging.

Both are equally effective in eliminating the harboring and breeding of adult mosquitoes surrounding your premises compound.

Water-based fogging is recommended due to its properties that are effective, environmental friendly and safe.

Water-based fogging does not produce carbon emission and releases minimal rate of smoke,

Best Ways to Get Rid of Mosquitoes in Your House and Yard

People are so sick and tired of mosquitoes that they keep inventing new ways to kill them. Amateurs and experimenters recommend rubbing herbs all over the place, while the manufacturers keep producing new electronic devices.

In order to kill mosquitoes smartly, let’s figure out what the modern treatments can and cannot do, and what purposes each of them serves. Here, we have listed ALL ways to get rid of mosquitoes ever invented by humans: from bacteria killing larvae to modern powerful propane traps.

How to Kill Mosquitoes with Methods Based on Scientific Research

There are only a few killing methods approved by the scientists: repellents, traps, foggers, mosquito larvae killers and insecticides for adult mosquitoes. Let’s see when and how each of them is to be used.

Obviously, repellents can only drive away mosquitoes. DEET- and Picaridin-based sprays, bands, and Permethrin-treated clothes are considered to be very effective.

Traps are suitable for catching adult species, but they do not control the mosquito population as the insects continue breeding regardless of whether the trap is working. UV, carbon dioxide (CO2), heat, water (H2O), and propane traps are such products; we have covered them in details in a separate review.

Mosquito killers not only kill adult species but also break the breeding cycle and these are represented by powerful insecticides (for killing adult mosquitoes) and bacteria and insect growth regulators (IGRs) which are poured into the water for killing larvae.

All in all, if you live and have to deal with thousands of mosquitoes, be ready to combine all these treatments. Use repellents for personal protection, traps for catching the mosquitoes, and synthetic chemicals and bacteria which kill mosquito larvae and thus break the breeding cycle for reducing mosquito population.

How To Keep Mosquitoes Away From Your Home for Good

What do mosquitoes look like?

Adult mosquitoes are small flying insects with spindly legs and narrow abdomens. Mosquitoes range from dark black to light brown in color, with different species carrying varied markings. All mosquitoes, however, possess a long and slender proboscis, an elongated mouthpart.

Female mosquitoes are biting insects that feed on blood, inflicting painful and itchy bites when they do. The itch is caused by an allergic reaction to mosquito saliva. Bites often appear as small red or white puffy bumps within a few minutes after the bite. After a few days, bites typically harden, darken, or blister. Mosquitoes can bite any part of exposed skin, so check areas such as your neck, arms, hands, or ankles following exposure.

The presence of mosquitoes is undesirable, especially when you’re dealing with mosquitoes in the house. Knowing how to get rid of mosquitoes and how to keep mosquitoes away are important factors every homeowner should learn.

Are mosquitoes dangerous?

Aside from irritation caused by bites, mosquitoes pose a serious threat to human health. Many mosquito species are notorious spreaders of infectious diseases. Mosquitoes can transmit serious and sometimes deadly illnesses to humans, including West Nile virus, Zika virus, chikungunya virus, malaria, and dengue fever.

What are mosquitoes attracted to?

Female mosquitoes are attracted to their hosts by a combination of carbon dioxide exhaled as breath and particular body odors. That’s why mosquitoes tend to bite some people more than others. Some mosquito species target specific animals, while others are equal opportunity feeders. Once they find a host, mosquitoes are attracted to body heat in order to land and start feeding.

Your Field Guide to Battle Mosquitoes

Control Mosquitoes Where You Live

Eliminate standing water. Mosquitoes can breed in as little as a teaspoon of water. Here are 12 locations to check at least weekly for standing water — tip and toss that water:

Buckets, watering cans, bottle caps or any trash that can hold water

Corrugated pipes for downspout drainage

Bird baths and pet water bowls

Potted plants with saucers

Children’s toys

Tarps on woodpiles and garden equipment

Grill and patio furniture

Wheelbarrows

Containers under decks and porches

Garbage cans, recycle bins and other barrels

Tires

Boats and boat covers

Not everyone will check or know to check these locations, so please share this list with neighbors and your homeowner’s association.

Treat standing water with a larvicide if it cannot be eliminated. If you cannot get rid of the water, treat it with a mosquito-specific, environmentally-friendly product such as Mosquito Dunks®, which are available at hardware stores and garden centers. Follow label instructions when applying.

If mosquitoes are biting, consider treating your yard with an insecticide. When used according to label instructions, an insecticide can help control biting mosquitoes. Pay attention to areas where they hide, such as dense vegetation and ground cover.

Organize a neighborhood clean-up. Get rid of litter and debris, discard old tires and manage vegetation that mosquitoes may be using as hiding places.

There may be other places or containers in your yard where water collects that are not on this list, so be sure to check throughout your yard for standing water.

Protect Yourself and Your Family From Mosquito Bites

Wear an EPA-registered insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, IR 3535 or para-menthane-diol and 2-undecanone. Insect repellent is safe and effective for children and pregnant women, too. Always apply according to label instructions. If using sunscreen, apply sunscreen first and then repellent.

Dress to protect. Cover exposed skin by wearing loose-fitting, light-colored long-sleeved shirts and pants. For extra protection, treat clothing with permethrin or purchase permethrin-treated clothing and gear. Never apply permethrin on skin and always follow label instructions.

Keep mosquitoes out of your home. Keep doors and windows closed. Make sure screens are in good repair. Use air-conditioning when available.

Why Wage Battle Against Mosquitoes?

Besides the unpleasant and itchy result of bites, mosquitoes can transmit disease. West Nile virus is found in Culex mosquitoes in Northern every year. When people are infected with the virus, it can cause symptoms such as fever, headache, body aches, joint pain and rash. It is also potentially fatal.

What’s the Best Natural Mosquito Repellent: A Comprehensive Guide

Summer provides amazing opportunities for spending quality time outdoor and having fun in the sun. As enjoyable as such activities may be, there’s one major annoyance to take care of – mosquitoes. Mosquito bites are incredibly irritating, not to mention the fact that certain health risks are associated with them.

Using a repellent is one of the best ways to keep mosquitoes away from yourself and your family. The market offers a wide array of options but chances are that you’re looking for something free from chemicals and synthetics. A natural mosquito repellent is an incredibly good idea because it will get the job done without causing skin irritation and other issues.

The Main Benefits of Repelling Mosquitoes Naturally

With so many products to choose among, it’s possible to feel a bit overwhelmed. There are so many insect repellents out there, why should you go the natural route? Even if you decide to do so, which natural product is the most potent one? This guide will provide the answers to all of your questions.

There are several reasons why natural insect repellents, particularly the ones targeting mosquitoes, are superior to chemical-filled sprays and creams.

Standard insect repellents rely on harsh chemicals that create a barrier against bugs. Most of them feature N,N-Diethyl-3-methylbenzamide, a substance that’s called DEET for short. DEET repels a wide array of insects but it may have an adverse neurological effect, clinical studies suggest. Researchers also believe that DEET could potentially interact with other ingredients in a mosquito repellent and become more toxic.